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Post by Larry Madsen on Nov 9, 2023 20:34:55 GMT -5
I did one of these a month and a half ago.
They call me up to say my test had come up positive and they were scheduling me to meet up with a gastrointestinal doctor. Appointment made for Friday the 13th.
I have to say, that put me (mentally) on the edge of my seat.
About two weeks later I attend my appointment with the doctor. Went over aspects of my colon. Some here may recall I had a piece of my colon removed in 2009 due to an abscess. My colon has been a bit of a focal point for me since then. The doctor sets me up for a colonoscopy. Appointment made for Halloween.
I had not done a colonoscopy since 2009. I did one in December of 2008 then another in September 2009 after the surgery at that time. 14 years between then and now.
I go in in for the colonoscopy and come out of it with 8 polyps being removed.
I just received my report from the procedure. Report indicates all polyps were benign. I'll be expected to repeat the procedure in 2 years.
I have to say, that initial statement of a presumptive test for colon cancer coming back positive doesn't leave the mind. Then the 8 polyps seemed to amplify the negative feeling.
I go back to the gastro doctor on the 14th.
In view of those here dealing with cancer ... I feel like I dodged another bullet.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Nov 9, 2023 20:45:18 GMT -5
Oh man, a bit of a fail on the Cologuard. Glad the colonscopy proved it wrong. I totally get it having a lingering effect. I know my wife and I are still affected after her ordeal.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Nov 9, 2023 20:55:16 GMT -5
a bit of a fail on the Cologuard. All along I had the thought/hoped that the test was simply finding trace blood in the stool. That would set off a positive. Probably too much detail, but even from the procedures in 2008 & 2009 we knew I have significant internal hemorrhoids. I had also been taking aspirin daily. The doctor told me to stop the aspirin or take the baby dose. Honestly, I don't really need the aspirin. I was taking them in the morning to shake off the pains of getting older. I think I was just "imagining" the aspirin helped with something that isn't that bad to begin with. |
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Post by Taildragger on Nov 9, 2023 21:29:26 GMT -5
Best of luck, Larry!
That "waiting for the other shoe to drop" stuff really sucks.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Nov 9, 2023 21:42:08 GMT -5
Oh yeah, NSAIDs, bad for the gut. I can't do aspirin because it messes up my stomach but Ibuprofen works magic, better than the 200 mg of pregabalin I take daily. But because it's an NSAID and my gut issues, reserve that for the rare occasion I'm determined to have a good night's sleep. I just fear I'll eventually pay the price as I've been dodging a sigmoidectomy for 10 years.
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Post by Ragtop on Nov 10, 2023 6:40:37 GMT -5
Yeah, you gotta go easy on the aspirin. I was taking one daily and ended up in the hospital with internal bleeding.
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Post by Ricketi on Nov 10, 2023 10:58:06 GMT -5
Having found 8 polyps , removed and found to be benign is a win . If left undetected could have turned cancerous. My wife’s mother died of colon cancer, my wife had 11” of colon removed 16 years ago because a polyp was found to be cancerous . She still goes every 2 years for a colonoscopy because of fear it will come back.
Both my kids have gone for a colonoscopy early in life because of the family history.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Nov 10, 2023 12:18:20 GMT -5
My nephew (age 47 at the time) was diagnosed with colon cancer in January of 2003 and died in September of the same year.
Left to itself things do go poorly.
I see on Tuesday if the doctor sees a need to look any further.
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Post by LTB on Nov 10, 2023 12:46:14 GMT -5
My late sister in law didn't get her first colonoscopy until age 54 they found a tumor in her colon. She did chemo and radiation and it cleared the tumor in the colon but then she got it in the Liver. After that it spread to the lungs and she passed away at age 56 in 2018
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Post by Larry Madsen on Nov 10, 2023 12:51:02 GMT -5
My BIL was checked at the age of 52. Had a whopping 32 polyps. All benign. A year later 12 polyps, again benign.
Since then thay have found none. He is now 63.
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Post by HenryJ on Nov 11, 2023 9:02:48 GMT -5
I asked my PCP about Cologuard and he acted like it was OK, but a week later, at an appointment with my oncologist, he said that colonoscopies are more reliable. Since I actually HAVE an oncologist, I went with the coloscopy.
Oh, and the aspirin. My cardiologist (I have a real posse of doctors keeping me alive) had me on Plavix AND a 325mg aspirin. After I reported to him a spontaneous nosebleed I had while riding through north Louisiana (which ain't exactly Colorado), he told me to go down to baby aspirin and has since taken me off aspirin altogether.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Nov 11, 2023 10:59:06 GMT -5
We had a couple of brothers who had cottages next to ours up in Canada. We were close to one, the other wasn't around much as he was a plastic surgeon and practiced in a larger city 2.5 hours away. He was always after his family members to keep up with regular checkups, etc., but didn't practice what he preached. By the time his colon cancer was diagnosed it was too late.
Colonoscopies are an inconvenience, but not as much as cancer.
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Post by RufusTeleStrat on Nov 11, 2023 22:04:27 GMT -5
My SIL recently had a positive, and he wants to "talk" about getting the colonoscopy. Talk. Smack my head, it is just a procedure.
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Post by guildx700 on Nov 11, 2023 22:16:05 GMT -5
Lost my wife of 24 years to cancer just this June.....take it seriously folks.....
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Post by Taildragger on Nov 11, 2023 22:25:09 GMT -5
Man, sorry to hear that, guildx700.
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Post by guildx700 on Nov 11, 2023 22:37:30 GMT -5
Man, sorry to hear that, guildx700. Thanks bro.....It's been the worst year of my life. Still trying to pull it together. Anything one can do for early detection, seriously,,,,just do it! |
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Post by Larry Madsen on Nov 11, 2023 23:16:20 GMT -5
Guildx700. 🙁
Wishing you the best on moving forward.
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Post by guildx700 on Nov 11, 2023 23:19:00 GMT -5
Guildx700. 🙁 Wishing you the best on moving forward. Thanks bro. I'm pushing on, slow, but determined. |
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Post by budg on Nov 12, 2023 6:49:38 GMT -5
I had my first colonoscopy at 55. The second 5 months ago . They removed several polyps that were all benign . Have to go back every 2 years. Still don’t know how I feel about Cologuard. Better than nothing , I suppose.
I went from polyps that were benign to skin cancer on my nose from a routine exam from a mole on my leg.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Nov 12, 2023 7:47:12 GMT -5
Still don’t know how I feel about Cologuard. As I sat with the doctor, she finally stated, "What we know is you have a positive result from Cologuard and I don't know why. So, we proceed assuming it is cancer until we can rule it out." She seemed a little dismayed to me. I don't know enough about how Cologuard works to say much. I was of the impression that it analyzes for more than simply blood in the stool. I know the TV ads speak of using DNA to identify it early. They also clearly indicate the potential for false positive and negative results. Obviously, the colonoscopy is the definitive exam. |
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Post by budg on Nov 12, 2023 8:49:22 GMT -5
Still don’t know how I feel about Cologuard. As I sat with the doctor, she finally stated, "What we know is you have a positive result from Cologuard and I don't know why. So, we proceed assuming it is cancer until we can rule it out." She seemed a little dismayed to me. I don't know enough about how Cologuard works to say much. I was of the impression that it analyzes for more than simply blood in the stool. I know the TV ads speak of using DNA to identify it early. They also clearly indicate the potential for false positive and negative results. Obviously, the colonoscopy is the definitive exam. I guess at the end of the day it pointed you in the right direction even with the improper diagnosis. My concern obviously would be a false negative . |
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Post by Larry Madsen on Nov 14, 2023 17:22:05 GMT -5
Back from the follow-up with the doctor. Doc says I am fine, just come back in 2 years for another.  This does give me pause regarding Cologuard though. These false positive and false negatives are a bit of a problem. As mentioned previously, a false negative could become a major problem. |
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Post by Taildragger on Nov 14, 2023 17:25:44 GMT -5
Back from the follow-up with the doctor. Doc says I am fine, just come back in 2 years for another. Well, that's certainly good to hear! |
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